OK, so NOW I’m just bragging! No, not really…but I did get to meet Suze Weinberg at CHA Summer in Orlando, Florida, and she was SUCH a sport! First, she gave us a demo of her new Hot Wax Stylus Tool (check it out my CraftCritique post HERE) and then she even used her hot-fix crystal tool to “bling” up my tee-shirt!  (See those orange crystals in the crown? Suze did those herself for me!)

It’s hard not to be a little star-struck when you meet your crafting idols in person. But I tell you, everyone has been so accessible and nice- no diva attitudes at all!

If you want to read my other posts about meeting  Lisa Pavelka at CHA Summer 09, just click the links- or search “CHA” in the search bar above to see ALL of my CHA adventures!

Well, my friends, by the third day of the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show, I’m just about pooped. That isn’t to say that I had a great time scouting more fun and goodies. Here, in a nutshell, was the day:

• Visited Judikins and drooled over Tranz it. Hope I get to review that!
• Re-visited the Viva Decor booth and Lisa Pavelka, and tried out some of the fabric paints. (Read my post on CraftCritique.com– it’s up now!) Drooled over paint. Hope I get to review that!
• Swung b Nunn Designs to check out the new Patera metal tag  jewelry findings. Drooled over flat discs and plates that you can rubber AND metal stamp on. REALLY hope I get to review that!
• Trotted over to the Clover booth, and checked out the new Hana-Ami flower loom. It’s so cool and retro. Drooling. Hoping to try it. (Sensing a trend?)
• Stopped by Beadalon to check out this really cool Chandelier-style ring, and got the scoop on the new stainless steel wrapping wire, the Spiral Maker, and the (older, but new-to-me) Spin-N-Bead Bead Loader. (Watch for upcoming CraftCritique.com posts and even VIDEO that I shot myself.) Drooling, hoping….

So much more to discuss in length, but I’m going to leave you with this great pic of the CraftCritique team covering the event, with our Craft Legend, Carol Duvall. Are we thrilled, or what?

(pictured, from left: Me, Amanda Moody Talber, Carol Duvall, Sarah Moore, and Dana Vitek.)

What a great day today! Busy, busy, busy, but I had to let you know that I met Lisa Pavelka in person today at CHA Summer 09, (and yes, that IS Suze Weinberg with us, too) and I’ve been officially inducted into the Tabernacle of Clay! I learned the secret handshake, took the Tenet of Faith. In other words, I was MADE to promise to give FREELY a minimum of 10% of my creative effort to help others on their creative journey. (Does blogging for free count, Lisa?) I LOVE this idea, and Lisa was very..um…shall we say “entertaining” in person. I could have stood there for hours, and laughed til my cheeks ached. (But that’s a post for another day….)
Anyway, you may be asking- what does Lisa Pavelka have to do with Viva Decor?( Hint: It’s crafty goodness.) Go find out at CraftCritique.com, where I’ve got some scoop and pics!

Don’t ask me where I’m going to find the time to actually MAKE it, but I just thought it was so clever. And d0-able. And who wouldn’t love this??? Talk about a great make-ahead gift just to stuff in a drawer, for when you need a giftie in a pinch.

So anyway, check out her other cool patterns…there are totes, a sewer’s apron, and some pincushions, all super-cute. And I like her blog, too….she’s spreading the crafty love. Craft on, Apple!